Partner
Kirk D. Holman of Holman Schiavone, LLC, comes from a hard-working New England family with humble beginnings. From the time he was a young boy, he yearned to be an attorney so that he could defend the rights of the underdog and champion worthy causes. He represents clients in Kansas City, Missouri, in cases involving civil rights, constitutional law, discrimination, employment and labor law and sexual harassment.
While in his first year of law school at the University of Missouri-Kansas City School of Law, Mr. Holman grew interested in employment law after a life-changing event in his family. His father was working in a ditch when the dirt collapsed because of a lack of proper supports. He endured numerous surgeries but was never able to work after the accident. His parents struggled on just his mother’s income, and he watched his father grieve the loss of a job that represented 35 years of employment.
As a result of this experience, Mr. Holman realized that he could help others protect their rights. He began clerking for the United States Department of Labor in an effort to learn employment law. He is now admitted to practice law in Missouri, Kansas, the U.S. District Court of the Western District of Missouri, the U.S. District Court of the District of Kansas, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 8th Circuit, and the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 10th Circuit.
As a respected speaker in the legal field, Mr. Holman has been asked to speak on numerous topics, such as issues in human resources, the Missouri Human Rights Act and the plaintiff’s perspective of corporations. Mr. Holman is considered one of the Top 100 Lawyers Missouri & Kansas “Super Lawyers”, a member of the Top 50 Kansas City “Super Lawyers” and has been named a Missouri & Kansas “Super Lawyer” every year since 2011.
He has also been honored as “Best of the Bar” for Employment Litigation by the Kansas City Business Journal. Mr. Holman is also a Member of “The National Trial Lawyers Top 100 Trial Lawyers” for the State of Missouri. The Association is a national organization composed of the Top 100 Trial Lawyers from each state. Membership is obtained through special invitation and is extended only to those attorneys who exemplify superior qualifications, leadership, reputation, influence, stature, and profile as trial lawyers, both civil plaintiff and criminal defense.
He is rated AV Preeminent® by Martindale-Hubbell. This mark is a significant rating accomplishment – a testament to the fact that his legal peers and the judiciary rank him at the highest level of professional excellence.
He has tried to verdict as first chair two verdicts in excess of $10,000,000, one additional verdict in excess of $5,000,000, and four additional verdicts in excess of $1,000,000. In addition to these seven and eight figure verdicts, he has to verdict as first chair thirteen verdicts in excess of $125,000.
He has been a member of both the National Employment Lawyers Association and the Labor and Employment Section of the American Bar Association since 2000.
Missouri & Kansas Super Lawyers, 2011-2022
Selected by Missouri Lawyers Weekly in 2020-2021 as one of “The Power 30 – Employment Law,” recognizing Kirk as
one “the 30 most powerful employment attorneys in Missouri.”
Selected by Missouri Lawyers Weekly in 2022 as one of “The Power 35 – Employment Law,” recognizing Kirk as one “the 35 most powerful employment attorneys
Missouri & Kansas Rising Stars, 2008-2010
Top 100: 2020 Missouri & Kansas Super Lawyers
Top 50: 2020 Kansas City Super Lawyers
Top 100: 2019 Missouri & Kansas Super Lawyers
Areas Of Practice
Civil Rights
Constitutional Law
Discrimination
Employment Law — Employee
Labor Law
Sexual Harassment
Bar Admissions
Missouri, 1999
Kansas, 2000
U.S. District Court Western District of Missouri, 1999
U.S. District Court District of Kansas, 2000
U.S. Court of Appeals 8th Circuit, 2000
U.S. Court of Appeals 10th Circuit, 2000
Education
University of Missouri-Kansas City School of Law, Kansas City, Missouri
J.D. – 1999
Assumption College, Worcester, Massachusetts
B.A. – 1995
Major: Politics
Classes/Seminars
Retaliation Claims Under the MHRA-Cradle to Grave (Plaintiff Perspective) – October 2015
Plaintiffs’ Lawyers Perspective on Trying Cases Before Juries – June 2015
“The Plaintiff’s Perspective, Dehumanizing The Corporate Defendant”, Kansas City Metropolitan Bar Association, 2008 to 2008
Cutting Edge Issues in Human Resources, Kansas City Metropolitan Bar Association, 2006 to 2006
Anatomy of the Missouri Human Rights Act, The Missouri Bar, 2006 to 2006
Honors and Awards
Missouri & Kansas Super Lawyers
Missouri & Kansas Rising Stars
Million Dollar Advocates Forum
The National Trial Lawyers Top 100 Trial Lawyers
Martindale Hubbell Peer Review Ratings™ AV Preeminent
Best of the Bar for Employment Litigation, Kansas City Business Journal
Member of National Association of Distinguished Cousel
Dean’s Achievement Award for Excellence in Employment Law
Top 100: 2020 Missouri & Kansas Super Lawyers
Top 50: 2020 Kansas City Super Lawyers
Top 100: 2019 Missouri & Kansas Super Lawyers
Professional Associations and Memberships
National Employment Lawyers Association, 2000
American Bar Association, Labor and Employment Section, 2000
Missouri Association of Trial Attorneys, 2010 to Present
